People use these devices [i.e. remotes] while watching movies or TV shows at home. Given this, two key elements of the user’s situation are likely to be:
- Wearing glasses for distance viewing, rather than reading
- Low levels of lighting
Of course, a young designer whose vision hasn’t yet started to deteriorate wouldn’t have the first problem. And anyone reviewing design options in a brightly lit meeting room wouldn’t have the second problem. Finally, professionals reviewing design proposals are likely to be sober, whereas many of their customers will be making a major dent in a six-pack, reducing both visual acuity and clarity of thought. If your customer base is likely to imbibe, you must design accordingly. —Jakob Nielsen —Why Consumer Products Have Inferior User Experience (Alertbox)
I used to tell my tech writing students, “Write for Homer Simpson.”
Creating textures for background buildings in a medieval theater simulation project. I can always improve…
Nothing in this stack is pressing, but they do include rough drafts of final papers,…
Here’s the underlying problem. We have an operating image of thought, an understanding of what…
Representing the Humanities at Accepted Students Day.
The daughter opens another show. This weekend only.
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I used to show a clip of Homer in the midst of a core meltdown, pulling out a huge dusty manual from under his console, and, as alarms blare, he blows dust off the manual and reads, "Congratulations on your purchase of the 1954 Fissionator Nuclear Reactor. D'oh! Get the point, man!"
He then sees a diagram, and unfolds it -- it is huge, complex, and illegible.
"D'oh!"
"Write for Homer Simpson." -- EXCELLENT!
One of my bosses types in only Courier 14 pt Bold (looking at an entire document of it makes me sick). Another only uses 9pt type if she's feeling generous, otherwise 8. They both wear glasses and are roughly the same age . . it's mysterious.
Yes, I can attest to that one!
"Write for Homer Simpson." ... BRILLIANT! That's quotable!